Quick-connect vent tube structure

ABSTRACT

A quick-connect vent tube used in the filler valves of automatic bottle and can beverage filling machines. Vent tube is of unitary one-piece construction formed from corrosion-resistant metal or thermoplastic material for long term use and high resistance to bacterial accumulation on the vent tubes, and has an O-ring seal connection for mounting in a valve. The seal acts as a sealing arrangement and concurrently retains the tube in the filler valve. In another embodiment, a filler valve, which is of the standard threaded vent tube connector type, has an adaptor fastened thereto to provide for the quick-connect seal connection of a vent tube having no threaded connecting portion thereon.



1. In an apparatus for the high-speed filling of containers with fluids or the like, the combination of a filling valve device including vent tube means adapted to extend into said containers during filling; said vent tube means comprising; an elongate hollow cylindrical member, said cylindrical member having one end formed into a closed portion, the other end of said cylindrical member being open and adapted to be attached to means defining a fluid outlet bore of said filling valve, at least one venting aperture extending through the side wall of said cylindrical member adjacent its closed end portion, said venting aperture being in communication with the hollow interior of said cylindrical member so as to provide venting passageway means during the filling of said containers, and the open end portion of said tube means including a plurality of annular grooves in spaced relation, and a sealing ring member in each of said grooves and being dimensioned so as to engage said valve bore means for attaching engagement therewith.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member includes a plurality of venting apertures extending through its side wall in communication with the hollow interior of said vent tube.
 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said grooves are provided on the annular external surface of said tube means, said sealing ring members each having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of said tube means so as to engage said valve bore means.
 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said fluid outlet bore means includes a plurality of grooves in axial alignment with the grooves on said vent tube, said valve bore grooves being adapted to receive the outer diametral portions of said sealing ring members.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid outlet bore means comprises an adapter nipple for attaching said vent tube to said filling valve device; said adapter nipple having an upper threaded portion for threadingly engaging said filling valve device, a lower cylindrical portion adapted to be slidingly inserted into the open end of said hollow cylindrical member, a plurality of annular grooves in spaced relation being provided on the external surface of said cylindrical portion of the nipple, said grooves on the cylindrical member of said vent tube being interiorly thereof, and said sealing ring members interlocking said adapter nipple and said vent tube upon insertion of the latter into the former.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vent tube includes a spreader means formed integrally therewith, said spreader means comprising a generally frusto-conical annular flange encompassing a portion of said cylindrical member, and the base portion of said annular flange being positioned toward the closed end of said vent tube.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vent tube consists essentially of a metallic material.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said metallic material comprises stainless steel.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said vent tube consists essentially of thermoplastic material. 